Wahida Clark - Whats Really Hood!: A Collection of Tales from the Streets

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the authors imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

Copyright 2010 by Wahida Clark

All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

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First eBook Edition: May 2010

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ISBN: 978-0-446-56986-6

Payback with Ya Life

Thug Lovin

BY VICTOR L. MARTIN

Raleigh, North Carolina

Present time

D esiree Eason was young, black and sexy and far from being a follower of the norm. You know the stereotype of a black woman: sexually wild, two or more kids by different men, a boyfriend thats locked up, willing to open her legs for a man based on his flashy whip. Nah, Desiree was above and beyond that. Her looks were conservative but easily sexy. She was a petite size five, standing flat-footed at five-two with clear mocha skin. Her brownish hair, which she usually kept in a simple ponytail, hung past her delicate shoulders. Her light hazel eyes were inviting and between them sat her cute pert nose. Her lips were thin and sexy and stayed coated with the lightest touch of lip gloss. Her measurements were 34B-23-34. Desiree was a certified legal assistant for Shaw, Barnes and Rivers Attorneys at Law. Not bad for a twenty-three-year-old single-by-choice black female. At the moment she was headed back to her office with her laptop in one hand and her Donald J Pliner bag slung across her left shoulder while chatting on her Audiovox picture flip phone. Just as she reached for the doorknob while shouldering her cell phone to her ear, a rude comment easily gained her attention.

Damn, she got a nice ass.

Desiree promptly told her roommate to hold on for a second. Excuse me! she said as she turned around, eyeing the four black men lounging in the waiting area of the cozy law office. The comment was rude, but in truth the truth was told. Desiree was filling out her clingy tweed Calvin Klein pants mighty nicely. In truth, she had a lovely ass!

She eyed each one of the waiting clients and dared one to speak up. Sucking her teeth, she turned on the heels of her Via Spigas, then went into her office. She wasnt upset over the comment, she was just tired of seeing black men in trouble. She hated the senseless gang violence, black men killing each other over a red or blue cloth, and she saw no end to it. Entering her office, she kicked the door shut behind her, flicked the lights on, then headed toward her desk. Kicking her heels off after placing her laptop on her desk, she resumed her conversation.

Where were we? Desiree said as she placed her stocking-clad feet up on her desk. She wiggled her pedicured toes while relaxing back into the leather contoured chair.

What was that all about? her roommate, Jelena, asked.

Some dude making a remark about my butt!

So, Jelena teased, what do you expect? You prancing around with that tight booty.

Jelena.

Yeah?

Shut it up, Desiree said, crossing her ankles. Anyway, like I was saying Im tired of seeing my people going through this system.

I take it that the case didnt go well today.

No, it didnt. They gave Jamal a life sentence. Desirees voice was filled with pain.

He did commit a crime, Jelena pointed out. Hes the one that did the drive-by in Durham, right?

Yeah.

And then shot the police station up in Raleigh?

Yeah.

Well he cant be allowed to walk free, can he?

Im not saying he should, Desiree responded. Its I just wish there was another way to curb this big problem.

There is a way, Desiree.

Im listening.

Its called common sense. Aint nobody forcing us black people to kill each other. Just because Im a college grad doesnt mean I dont see the problem. And plus we both know that the system is A knock at Desirees door forced her to cut Jelena off.

Go ahead and take care of your business because my minutes on this phone is already over my budget limit so Ill holla at ya.

Okay, bye, girl, Desiree said, removing her feet from her desk as she rolled back from it. Pushing the END button, then flipping her Audiovox closed, she laid it on the desk, then went to answer the door.

May I help you? she asked in her professional voice as she looked up to the man standing before her looking like Michael Vick, sporting a nappy mini afro and chewing on a toothpick. He wore a cream-colored G-Unit leather jacket with matching jeans and a pair of white Air Force 1s. He looked into her hazel eyes, smiled, then looked down at her sexy feet. Desiree rolled her eyes as she realized she had forgotten to slip on her heels.

Mr. Shaw told me to give you my info and stuff, he said, grinning around the toothpick.

Come in, she said, nodding at the chair in front of her desk.

As she walked around her desk she heard him mumble something under his breath.

Excuse me? she asked, sliding her feet back into her Via Spigas.

He continued to grin as he took a seat. Anybody ever tell you that you favor Christina Milian?

She ignored his comment as well as his smile. I think we have more important matters to tend to other than my looks, Mr.?

Polo I mean Tyrone, he said, removing the frayed toothpick from his mouth.

Whats your full name? she asked, with her slender fingers poised over the wireless keyboard to her computer.

Tyrone Leon Bell, also known as Polo.

Need a trash can for that? she asked without looking at him. She was referring to his toothpick as she typed his name in.

Nah, Im good, he replied, checking out her ring finger to see if shorty was married. Nope. Damn, shes fine as fuck.

Desiree was strictly professional as she took all his info. He was hiring Mr. Shaw in the hopes that he could keep him out of prison for a gun charge.

Do you have any pending charges? she asked, removing her eyes from the flat computer screen.

Nah. But Im on probation.

For what?

Drug charge.

Once she had typed in the info she asked him about his current charge.

Po-po found a gun on me.

I take it that you dont have a permit?

Hell naw, shawty He started to laugh but paused at the stern look on her still-sexy face. I mean um

Its Ms. Eason, she said sternly. Not shawty.

My bad, he said, holding his hands up. Her take-no-shit mind-set was off the hook. I wonder if shes the same in the bedroom? I can only dream because she might not fuck wit such a thug nigga as myself.

And your reason for having a gun?

I live in Durham, he answered matter-of-factly. Shit, its like a fuckin war zone he continued.

Is that what you expect the judge to hear?

He shrugged his shoulders. Yo thats how it is, shI mean, Ms. Eason.

So, she said, crossing her arms. If the judge gives you some time, and say thats how it is then what?